Best Belly-Dancing Brunch (2011)

Most people don't realize what's behind the doors of Burger Continental in Pasadena. Not only is the restaurant's name painfully generic, it hardly describes the vibe inside — or the food, for that matter. This charming hideaway comes with a sprawling patio that looks a little like the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. Burger Continental specializes in pita sandwiches, kebabs, falafel, gyros, baklava and other forms of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. There are burgers, too, but with such a banquet of exotic dishes, it's not usually the first thing people choose to eat. Be sure to try the Sunday brunch, an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet with stations that dole out generous portions of omelets, Belgian waffles, meat and Mexican food. There are also the trademark foreign specialties, including some pretty unusual morning entertainment — namely, belly dancers. As part of its Sunday brunch, Burger Continental features live music along with rapidly gyrating, undulating women decorated with coins. Because who doesn't need a little shimmy with their toast and coffee? 535 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena. (626) 792-6634, burgercontinentalpasadena.com.